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US Manga Industry and Publisher News Thread

I'm creating this thread to consolidate information on the U.S. manga industry. Any posts post regarding publisher news, licensing agreements, upcoming titles, and new releases will be welcome in this thread. The New York Times Manga Bestseller list will also be posted weekly.

Unlike the Oricon, the New York Times does not track or release sales data. Neilsons is the American equivalent of Oricon, unlike Oricon they do not make data available to the public. The New York Times collects data from venders in order to build their book charts. They do not release any data they have, only providing an ordered list. These charts do give a good idea of what Americans are reading, even if they do not give as clear a picture as the Oricon charts.

List of Major American Manga Publishers

VIZ: Jointly owned by Shueisha and Shogakukan, also license a considerable number of Hakusensha titles. Includes special line of books for Shounen Jump (including Weekly Jump, SQ, and V Jump), Shounen Sunday, and IKKI.

Kodansha USA: Began operation in 2010, owned and operated by Kodansha.

Vertical: Specializes in seinen and manga classics. Now owned by Kodansha.

Seven Seas Entertainment: Largely concentrates on moe, bishoujo, and other otaku friendly titles. Also publishes a considerable number of OEL titles.Dark Horse: American comic book publisher, also publishes some popular manga titles.

Last Gasp, Top Shelf, Drawn and Quarterly: All three publish alternative manga and gekiga that compliment there primary focus: underground, English language graphic novels.

Ponent Mon: Publish la nouvelle manga in English and French.

Tokyopop no longer publishes manga in North America. In 2009 Kodansha allowed it's licensing agreements with Tokyopop and Del Ray to lapse. Del Ray no longer publishes any Kodansha titles, all previous releases are out of print. Many are being reissued by Kodansha USA.

Re: US Manga Industry and Publisher News Thread

Originally Posted by Kaiten

List of Major American Manga Publishers

VIZ: Jointly owned by Shueisha and Shogakukan, also license a considerable number of Hakusensha titles. Includes special line of books for Shounen Jump (including Weekly Jump, SQ, and V Jump), Shounen Sunday, and IKKI.

Kodansha USA: Began operation in 2010, owned and operated by Kodansha.

Vertical: Specializes in seinen and manga classics. Now owned by Kodansha.

Seven Seas Entertainment: Largely concentrates on moe, bishoujo, and other otaku friendly titles. Also publishes a considerable number of OEL titles.

Last Gasp, Top Shelf, Drawn and Quarterly: All three publish alternative manga and gekiga that compliment there primary focus: underground, English language graphic novels.

Ponent Mon: Publish la nouvelle manga in English and French.

Tokyopop no longer publishes manga in North America. In 2009 Kodansha allowed it's licensing agreements with Tokyopop and Del Ray to lapse. Del Ray no longer publishes any Kodansha titles, all previous releases are out of print. Many are being reissued by Kodansha USA.

You forgot to mention 'Dark Horse Comics' which publish Berserk and Gantz

Re: US Manga Industry and Publisher News Thread

Does Dark Horse really put out enough manga to be considered a major manga publisher? The publish a considerably larger amount of American comics than they do manga. I honestly have no idea if they are licensing several new manga titles often or if they are just licensing a few here and there.

Re: US Manga Industry and Publisher News Thread

I did forget dark horse. I'm not sure how to describe their line up, exactly though.

Originally Posted by Drmke

Does Dark Horse really put out enough manga to be considered a major manga publisher? The publish a considerably larger amount of American comics than they do manga. I honestly have no idea if they are licensing several new manga titles often or if they are just licensing a few here and there.

They are more of a comic book company but they were one of the first American publishers to license manga and have some licensed some very significant titles: Berserk, Gantz, Blade of the Immortal, Ah My Goddess. They also have reissued most of CLAMPS catalog. They do not license as much as the other companies, but what they do license is usually of significance.

The VIZ reissues of Tenjo Tenge contains two Japanese volume per book. As with all VIZ Signature they are wideban, not tankobon editions. From what I understand it is common practice in Japan to release new seinen as larger size wideban editions. Previous American editions of Tenjo Tenge were heavily censored and released by now defunct DC Comics subsidiary CMX.

Kodansha Comics reissues of Sailor Moon are also special editions including new covers and new translations, but in standard tankobon dimensions. The special editions have been condensed into twelve longer volumes, rather than the original 18 volumes.

I will start linking to this every month when it comes out. The list includes all graphic novels, not just manga. This should give a better estimate of how popular individual titles are in the state. These are not accurate estimates of total sales and should not be treated as such. They are based on a single distributor: Diamond Publishing who sell exclusively to comic book and specialty stores. They do not sell to big box retailers or book stores. These figures exclude copies shipped to Walmart, Barnes and Nobles, Amazon, etc. Comic book stores tend to stock more American graphic novels than manga, tilting the charts in their favor. Book stores such as Barnes and Nobles tend to stock more manga than American graphic novels. While these charts should not be treated like the Oricon they do give a good idea of what is popular and a rough hierarchy of what is most popular with Americans.

Thermae Romae will be released in hardcover omnibus editions, two to a volume. "Mori Kaoru Shuuishuu: Anything and Something" collects eight short stories by Emma/Otoyomegatari mangaka Mor Kaoru. It will also be released in hardcover.

Re: US Manga Industry and Publisher News Thread

I'm definitely going to be checking out Emerald and other Stories, as well as Mori Kaoru's Anything and Something. Also, Yen Press licensing another Mori Kaoru manga has me praying that they will acquire the Emma license and give it a reprint. Otoyomegatari may not be a blockbuster for them, but it has brought them some critical acclaim(Eisner nomination and YASLA list). Volume 3 did just make the NYTBSL though. I'm thinking they have taken a liking to her work. License saving/reprints are starting to become more common too. Especially with Tokyopop closing shop. I think I just saw that Paradise Kiss was picked up by Vertical, and that was printed in it's entirety by Tokyopop. I think Kodansha USA has been reprinting a few series too. I would LOVE to get my hands on some Emma omnibuses.

Re: US Manga Industry and Publisher News Thread

I've been reading Blood Lad raw, and have found myself enjoying it. I think I'll be making that purchase when it comes to the states....I just wonder whatever happened to the anime plans for the series...?

Re: US Manga Industry and Publisher News Thread

Originally Posted by Bomber D Rufi

I've been reading Blood Lad raw, and have found myself enjoying it. I think I'll be making that purchase when it comes to the states....I just wonder whatever happened to the anime plans for the series...?

Some speculate it to air in Summer. Though I can't seem to find any solid confirmation regarding that.

Last year Battle Angel Alita creator acrimoniously split from Shueisha, moving Battle Angel Alita: Last Order to Kodansha's Evening magazine. I am not sure whether Kodansha will reissue the entire series, or hold the license for the volumes released under the Evening KC imprint only.